Common Core opponents are making some noise and getting noticed – so much so that Governor Kasich felt compelled to address his position on Common Core at a campaign stop in Lorain County.

The Toledo Blade reports that Governor Kasich noticed “a handful of sign-carrying protestors outside the windows” and responded as follows,

“The high standards that have been set were set by experts across the country, not in Washington.”

“These are people who understand educational standards, and they’re high standards. To meet those high standards, the school boards have locally designed the curriculum. … If it wasn’t working that way, I wouldn’t be for these standards.”

It’s good to see Governor Kasich acknowledge what we all know to be true: the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) were not written by Ohioans. They were written by out-of-state concerns whose core values as they relate to education may not align with those of Ohio parents and teachers.

But, Governor Kasich was not so accurate when he stated, “To meet those high standards, the school boards have locally designed the curriculum…”

As concerned parents have made clear to the Kasich administration and to state legislators, the CCSS drive curriculum and so do the PARCC state achievement tests which are aligned to the CCSS. PARRC makes this point in an August 2014 press release. PARCC CEO Laura Slover is quoted in the release,

“High quality assessments go hand-in-hand with high quality instruction based, on high quality standards. You cannot have one without the other. The PARCC states see quality assessments as a part of instruction, not a break from instruction.”

“The proponents of Common Core and PARCC continue to insist that tests and standards are not about curriculum, but that’s a ruse. Teachers already know that what is tested at the end of the year is what is taught in classrooms throughout the year. PARCC may not mandate one textbook or one pacing guide, but the CEO of the federally funded PARCC has admitted one thing: PARCC controls instruction and instruction is curriculum.”

The importance Common Core proponents place on standards driving curriculum is also demonstrated through the start-up of a new non profit organization. Breitbart tells us that Bill Gates, a major financial supporter of Common Core, is helping fund EdReports.org which will offer free online reviews of instructional materials. The reviews will focus on “alignment to the Common Core” and other “quality indicators.” EdReports.org’s reviews will put pressure on publishing companies to ensure their instructional materials match the CCSS.

“EdReports.org, a new, independent nonprofit designed to improve K-12 education in the United States, will launch in winter 2014. EdReports.org will provide free, web-based reviews of instructional materials series focusing on alignment to the Common Core and other indicators of high quality as recommended by educators, including usability, teacher support and differentiation. These Consumer Reports-style reviews will highlight those instructional materials that are aligned to the higher standards states have adopted so that teachers, principals and district and state officials charged with purchasing materials can make more informed choices.”

Ohio school districts can do as Governor Kasich says and design their own curriculum, but their students won’t do well on the PARCC tests. And EdReports.org will make it difficult for districts that have the gall to design curriculum to find instructional materials not aligned to Common Core.

Governor Kasich told the attendees at the Lorain County rally, “If it wasn’t working that way (school boards design curriculum), I wouldn’t be for these standards.” (Emphasis added.)

It’s time for Governor Kasich to put his money where his mouth is. A bill to repeal Common Core, HB 597, is working its way through the Ohio House. It could use Governor Kasich’s support so that Ohio school boards, teachers, and parents can go back to controlling instruction in Ohio schools.

I have my Absentee ballot here, and I doubt very much that I will be voting for Gov. Kasich, only because of him being a big supporter of Common Core. This seriously needs repealed.

Betty Beidelschies
October 20, 2014 at 9:55 pm

Holly Quick!
The truth of Common Core was that our Gov. John Hickenlooper (pooper), VP of the National Governors Association talked 46 governors in 2009 to accept Common Core site unseen for FEDERAL STIMULUS MONEY. The only way it can be repealed is through the OHIO LEGISLATURE. Taking the PARCC tests is nothing more than ‘child abuse’. So sick of hearing about ‘high standards’ which is a lie as they have watered down the standards and by the time a child reaches 7th grade they will be 2 years behind. All test data is funneled to the FEDS. THE FEDS sett the standards. Nothing more than political indoctrination. Only 15% of reading time is spent on literature; the rest is federal court cases and documents. The experts have a firm base in communism and the Muslim faith. the tests are designed to FAIL kids so they can be tested up to 9 times a year. Many companies are involved like SCHOLASTIC because of the bucks and to the ruination of kids. Kids and parent deserve better. Thanks for the fight as many states are fighting too. Former OHIO teacher for 35 years and can’t believe such indoctrination.

Connie L. Finney
October 15, 2014 at 9:39 pm

What a farce? School boards do not design curriculum. They are given something to vote on by a superintendent and they do. How would a housewife know how to design curriculum? Or a steel worker? Or a cop? Or an accountant? If Kasich has his way, state mandated education will be done by commercial enterprise and no parent will have any say because it will be just like Wal-Mart or Sears or General Motors. That is what he is aiming for…just like when he tried to get rid of unions in Ohio right after he was elected.

Connie L. Finney
October 15, 2014 at 9:43 pm

For more info on what Kasich is trying to do, please contact Lorain County BATS…Jean Neeley Randall or Tracy Diedrick…they are getting stronger everyday.

Connie L. Finney…..go opt your kids or grandkids out of the tests if you have children. All test data is being funneled to the federal government. We need to repeal Common Core which has to be repealed in the legislature. 46 OHIO being one. governors chose to opt the federal stimulus money so now the tests have to be repealed at the state level and if better at the national level.

Dave
February 26, 2015 at 5:32 pm

My wife and I opted our child out of the testing. We were very happy to do so. Now the elyria school board sent me a letter today saying that if our child doesn’t take the tests she won’t go on to the 4th grade. I hope i’m doing the right thing. Becuase if we didn’t we just hurt my child in her abiltity to go to the next grade.

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